The Spaniards are hoping to tie Costa down to a new deal.
Atletico Madrid want to tie striker Diego Costa down to a new deal in order to ward off transfer interest from Arsenal, according to Spanish publication Marca.
The 25-year-old has been in fine form this season, stepping in to fill the void left by the £50m departure of top-scorer Radamel Falcao to AS Monaco last summer.
Costa has scored 27 goals in 36 matches in all competitions, helping Atletico to third in La Liga – and just three points off leaders Real Madrid – and the verge of qualifying for the Champions League quarter-finals.
However, the forward has a release clause of around £31m and many sides – most prominently the Gunners – have shown interest in meeting that fee.
That is why Atleti are keen to offer Costa a new contract, increasing that buyout fee and also giving the attacker £2.5m-a-year until 2018.
There is a policy at the Vicente Calderon Stadium that means players have to be sold if a big offer comes in, but the club are keen to hold onto the Brazilian born star for at least one more year.
Previously along with Falcao, Diego Forlan, Sergio Aguero and Fernando Torres have all been sold for large transfer fees and the side from the Spanish capital want to receive more for Costa.
The Premier League seems to be the main source of interest in the recently converted Spain international, with Liverpool and Chelsea having also been keeping tabs.
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